Janine Anthony Bowen, John P. Hutchins and Christopher A. Wiech bring privacy, complex commercial litigation and transactions experience to firm

BakerHostetlerannounced that a trio of technology-focused lawyers has joined its Atlanta office as partners. Janine Anthony Bowen, John P. Hutchins and Christopher A. Wiech joined from LeClairRyan, where they were leaders of the firm’s technology and innovations practice.

The three bring a combination of broad and unique experience in matters important to technology companies and companies dealing with tech-related issues, including business transactions, privacy and data protection, outsourcing, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, and complex litigation. They will be members of BakerHostetler’sprivacy and data protection practice team.

“The addition of Janine, John and Chris enhances our presence in Atlanta and further strengthens the team’s capabilities when supporting clients with technology issues,” said Theodore J. Kobus III, leader of BakerHostetler’s privacy and data protection practice. “Their work on technology matters complements our core group of more than 55 cybersecurity attorneys serving clients from Fortune 500 companies to small and midsize businesses as well as health systems, universities, emerging technology companies, and state and municipal entities.”

“Technology is omnipresent for businesses of all sizes, and Janine, John and Chris provide the transactional and litigation experience that our clients will find invaluable,” said Joann Gallagher Jones, managing partner of BakerHostetler’s Atlanta office. “Their cross-disciplinary practice brings additional depth to the extensive IP capabilities in our Atlanta office.”

Janine Anthony Bowen

Janine Anthony Bowen advises clients on a host of issues related to technology, including its licensing and acquisition, privacy and data security, intellectual property agreements, and the strategic use of technology in e-commerce, cloud computing, mobile applications, IoT and other areas. She negotiates sophisticated, business-critical technology deals for her clients on both the buy and sell sides.
Bowen holds credentials as a Certified Information Privacy Professional from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Prior to entering private practice, Bowen was a senior consultant for Accenture, an industrial engineer at CIBA Vision and a program manager at IBM.

Bowen received her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law, and an M.S. in industrial engineering and a B.S. in industrial engineering from Clemson University.

In 2017, Bowen was inducted into the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists, becoming the first woman to receive the highest honor bestowed by Clemson University’s College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences.

John P. Hutchins

John Hutchins is a veteran trial and technology lawyer with broad experience encompassing complex commercial litigation and trial work, privacy and data security matters, and compliance and strategic counseling on technology matters and transactions.

He has litigated for clients on a wide range of issues, primarily focusing on matters involving privacy,   technology, intellectual property, government procurement, restrictive covenants and breach of fiduciary duty but also including cases pertaining to eminent domain, vintage race cars and death-penalty habeas corpus, among others.

Hutchins’ privacy and data security practice, in addition to litigation, includes advising clients on compliance with state, federal, and international privacy and data security laws and guidance.

His transactional practice consists of a mix of complex technology transactions, including sourcing deals, hosted services arrangements, cloud computing, technology licensing, systems procurement and project implementation.

Hutchins received his J.D. from the University of South Carolina, where he was a member of the South Carolina Law Review. He received his B.A. from the University of South Carolina and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Christopher A. Wiech

Christopher Wiech is a business trial lawyer whose practice primarily focuses on technological disputes and in matters for clients dealing with privacy and data security incidents. He also handles complex litigation for clients on corporate governance issues, business torts, restrictive covenants and breach of fiduciary duty, financial industry matters, and creditor rights and bankruptcies. He has experience before federal and state courts throughout the United States, including in class actions, jury trails, arbitration matters and appellate cases.

Wiech advises clients on state, federal, and international laws and regulations regarding data security and privacy issues, e-commerce, cloud computing, social media, fintech, and records management. He also advises companies on legal and regulatory compliance facing emerging technologies, including cryptocurrency, IoT and blockchain technology.

Wiech holds credentials as a Certified Information Privacy Professional from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his B.S. from James Madison University.

“We are pleased to be joining BakerHostetler. The firm’s strong corporate and litigation practices, and especially its industry-leading privacy and data protection team, make it a perfect fit for our work and our clients,” said Hutchins. “Janine, Chris and I work with clients on sophisticated transactions, data protection and complex litigation, and we needed to join a firm that had equally broad and deep bench strength in those areas and related practices.”

BakerHostetler’s award-winning privacy and data protection team continues its strategic growth, adding high-profile laterals in a number of key markets and continuing its reputation for effectively managing data security incidents, responding to regulatory investigations, providing risk assessments and compliance counseling, and defending class actions.

Ranked in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA – Privacy & Data Security as well as in Chambers Global – USA, Privacy & Data Security, the team is a cross-disciplinary practice of more than 55 attorneys who have counseled clients nationally and internationally through more than 2,500 data breach and ransomware responses. The annual BakerHostetlerData Security Incident Response Report is regarded as one of the industry’s most credible analyses of data security incidents companies face. In its fourth year, the report helps companies understand potential threats, protect their data and fine-tune their incident response plans. In response to increasing ransomware events in 2017, the privacy and data protection practice has formed a SWAT team of dedicated on-call privacy and data protection attorneys experienced in the evolution of ransomware. The SWAT team members help clients immediately address whether and how to pay ransom, how to preserve crucial data to ensure business continuity, when to engage with law enforcement, and how to draft crisis communications.